Abstract
BackgroundOccupational sedentary behaviour is an important contributor to overall sedentary risk. There is limited evidence for effective workplace interventions to reduce occupational sedentary time and increase light activity during work hours. The purpose of the study was to determine if participatory workplace interventions could reduce total sedentary time, sustained sedentary time (bouts >30 minutes), increase the frequency of breaks in sedentary time and promote light intensity activity and moderate/vigorous activity (MVPA) during work hours.MethodsA randomised controlled trial (ANZCTR number: ACTN12612000743864) was conducted using clerical, call centre and data processing workers (n = 62, aged 25–59 years) in 3 large government organisations in Perth, Australia. Three groups developed interventions with a participatory approach: ‘Active office’ (n = 19), ‘Active Workstation’ and promotion of incidental office activity; ‘Traditional physical activity’ (n = 14), pedometer challenge to increase activity between productive work time and ‘Office ergonomics’ (n = 29), computer workstation design and breaking up computer tasks. Accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X, 7 days) determined sedentary time, sustained sedentary time, breaks in sedentary time, light intensity activity and MVPA on work days and during work hours were measured before and following a 12 week intervention period.ResultsFor all participants there was a significant reduction in sedentary time on work days (−1.6%, p = 0.006) and during work hours (−1.7%, p = 0.014) and a significant increase in number of breaks/sedentary hour on work days (0.64, p = 0.005) and during work hours (0.72, p = 0.015); there was a concurrent significant increase in light activity during work hours (1.5%, p = 0.012) and MVPA on work days (0.6%, p = 0.012).ConclusionsThis study explored novel ways to modify work practices to reduce occupational sedentary behaviour. Participatory workplace interventions can reduce sedentary time, increase the frequency of breaks and improve light activity and MVPA of office workers by using a variety of interventions.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTN12612000743864.
Highlights
There is a growing understanding that high levels of total sedentary time and sustained sedentary time and low levels of light intensity physical activity are associated with poor health independent of moderate/vigorous activity [1,2,3,4,5,6]
The first aim of this study was to determine if participatory workplace programmes could reduce total sedentary time and sustained sedentary time; increase the frequency of breaks in sedentary time; and increase the duration of light intensity physical activity and moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA), on work days and during work hours
A further 14 did not want to complete the follow up analysis, 3 sets of accelerometer data were lost due to equipment failure and 2 participants left the workplaces. 24 data sets had insufficient work or non-work days to be included in the analyses
Summary
There is a growing understanding that high levels of total sedentary time and sustained sedentary time (or lack of breaks in sedentary time) and low levels of light intensity physical activity are associated with poor health independent of moderate/vigorous activity [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Workplace interventions have successfully addressed risks associated with alcohol, smoking and nutrition [27,28,29,30] as well as the promotion of moderate/vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The purpose of the study was to determine if participatory workplace interventions could reduce total sedentary time, sustained sedentary time (bouts .30 minutes), increase the frequency of breaks in sedentary time and promote light intensity activity and moderate/vigorous activity (MVPA) during work hours
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